I Apologize

for the lack of posts recently. I have been home for an overdue visit to friends and family in New York and Connecticut, reading to try to improve on my writing, working on launching two new companies (that, unfortunately, have nothing to do with wine) before Feb '09, and finally attending to things that I've neglected over months when I've prioritized blogging, wine tasting, traveling, and mulling over life questions on long walks by the ocean. Bottom line is that not too much wine sipping and exploring is going on at the moment...I'm just happy if I can squeeze in a Leffe and a twenty minute walk around sunset time.

The purpose of this blog has always been to add value (wine knowledge, recommendations, philosophical exercises, etc.) to the lives of my readers through its content. I hope to resume posts in this nature in the next few weeks. Thanks for your patience. XO

What Would Google Do?

I just started reading "What Would Google Do" by Jeff Jarvis. Here is my favorite quote so far. He uses these sentences to explain how to reevaluate your method of attracting customers to take advantage of the power (and necessity) of "thinking distributed" in the context of the web:

"People draw their me-sphere with themselves at the center and everyone else - especially those who want their money - on the outside. That's how companies and institutions should view themselves: on the outside, asking to come in."

Google has provided a platform to enable anyone and anything to get distributed. It's a tool to get your potential customers to the destination or content they are seeking as efficiently as possible.

So figure out how to ask your customers to come in, not make them. Turn over traditional, centralized advertising theory and find out what people may ask to find you...need you...want you! Your own homepage is important, but nowhere close to the breadth of pages featuring links to your homepage. Apply your resources here and grow. Fast.

This thinking can be applied by companies and institutions, but also by anyone with an audience. I don't want your money; however, I do want your time - the time it takes to read my blog. I'm inspired to find other content on the web that I think you value and start distributing "Breathe Air & Drink Wine" there. Please leave a comment with your favorite sites to help me get started. Thank you!

What Is Content?

It's a homonym. This caught me off guard when I started this post because my intention was to consider the potential audience of this blog and what content I can feature that's inviting, current, and valuable.

Then I read the question the other way and that was thought provoking as well.

The content I strive for with this blog is simple. Short, well-written, thoughtful pieces on wine, lifestyle, respect, and self-improvement.

The last goal syncs with my answer to this question in the other context. "For me", (shout out to Randy Jackson!) there is an element of settling I associate with content. It's comfortable, like routines. And the self-improvement I strive for cannot be found here. But it's a nice place to hang out and catch your breath in.

I hope my content challenges our long term content.

Sharing (My Voice)

Am I qualified to do this? To write this blog? To put my thoughts into words and want people to read them? To believe things that others will disagree with? Of course I am and you are too. You should start your own blog. I want to read it. 

This life is about being an active participant in humanity. I could have majored in psychology or anthropology, apprenticed for Paulo Cohelo, read every "new age" book out there, and spent years juicing up my resume so a publisher would pay me an advance to write a book one day. But, instead, I just sat down and started writing. Because I am human, and so are you. Share and help us.

Sharing A Voice

Am I qualified to do this? To write this blog? To want other people to read my words and ask them to listen to my thoughts? To believe things that others will disagree with? Of course I am and you are too. This life is about being an active participant in humanity. I could have majored in psychology or anthropology, apprenticed for Paulo Cohelo, read every "new age" book out there, juiced up my philosopher resume so a publisher would pay me an advance. But instead I just sat down and started writing. Because I am human, and so are you.

Morning

I've always kept a journal, but privately. As a new "blogger", I'll do my best to appropriately use this new technology to stay in better touch with family and friends...and more actively experience the (scarily) strong bond more and more humans have with computers. I'm heading out for a morning walk around Ocean Avenue in Corona Del Mar. It's two blocks from my house here and one of the most peaceful/exhilarating moments of the day. For at least ten breaths I will consciously inhale the sweet ocean air to beyond my lungs capacity. Then slowly exhale with restraint - a proper balance of patiently coming to the end of this ultra-sensory breath and beginning the next one.